KitchenAid KDI-21A

[stricklybojack]

So my first post on something outside the vacuum world. This particular dishwasher is available on Craigslist in my area for a reasonable price. What are the considerations with running a vintage machine like this? That basically means what are the upsides/downsides to these vintage dishwashers? ...assuming they're in good shape to start with.

 

[stricklybojack]

Another pic

Hobart built this machine and it seems to date from the early 80's.

 

[vacosaurus]

Upside well built American made Quality.Probably parts are still available or can be tracked down on internet. Down side it's older and if you do not have the ability to trouble shoot and repair yourself it would be costly.probably not as energy efficient but that never bothers me. Look it over if interested try to figure out if it's been used alot or infrequently. Some people use them alot some never use them and they are like new. If it's cheap (nobody really buys this stuff for a lot of money) do not be afraid to beat them up on price because their next stop is the recycler and THEY have to haul it.

 

[danemodsandy]

Go Right to the Source!

You really need to take these questions over to Vacuumland's sister site, automaticwasher.org, called AW for short. AW is to major appliances what Vacuumland is to vacuums.

There is a member of AW whose handle is stevet; he can answer any and all questions about the machine and its repair and he can also help with parts.

This KitchenAid dishwasher is well worth saving, is easy and cost-effective to repair and will out-last and out-wash anything you could possibly buy new, including current KitchenAids. My own KitchenAid is from 1966, a KDS-55 - it looks like brand new, and washes better than anything made now.

Again, go to www.automaticwasher.org and ask over there; you'll be very welcome.

 

[stricklybojack]

Thanks for the feed back...

the washer would have been for my 85 yr old mother because i knew she would understand how to operate this KA machine being very similar to the first machine that came with her house 40 years ago, also a KA.
But she insisted on a new machine so we ordered a Bosch 500 series on sale over the weekend.

When you look at them in the showroom both Samsung & LG were unexpected standouts per dollar spent. The Samsung especially just felt like the best built machine out there. Sadly most who buy it seem to think the same, but much to their chagrin reliability is tragically missing from the picture if my internet research was accurate. Having just lived with a Samsung cell phone for two years only to have it seize up or "hard brick" out of nowhere made the choice clear.

The Bosch ticked all of our boxes & the price was right. If i could, i would get this KDI-21A to wash vac parts with, it's going for $40.